Hepatic portal system

Hepatic portal system is a part of the circulatory system in the body that is responsible for directing blood from parts of the gastrointestinal tract to the liver. The blood from the gastrointestinal tract carries nutrients and byproducts of food digestion, which are processed in the liver for distribution to the rest of the body.

Structure

The hepatic portal system begins in the capillaries of the spleen, stomach, pancreas, and intestine. These capillaries merge into larger veins, which in turn merge to form the hepatic portal vein. This vein carries blood into the liver, where it splits into a network of capillaries. These capillaries merge again to form veins that carry blood out of the liver and back to the heart.

Function

The main function of the hepatic portal system is to transport blood from the gastrointestinal tract to the liver. This blood contains nutrients and byproducts of food digestion, which the liver processes and distributes to the rest of the body. The liver also detoxifies harmful substances in the blood, such as alcohol and drugs, before they can cause damage to other parts of the body.

Clinical significance

Problems with the hepatic portal system can lead to serious health conditions. For example, portal hypertension is a condition in which the blood pressure in the hepatic portal system is too high. This can lead to varices, or enlarged veins, in the stomach and esophagus, which can rupture and cause life-threatening bleeding. Another condition, portal vein thrombosis, is a blood clot in the hepatic portal vein, which can block blood flow to the liver and cause liver failure.

See also

• Circulatory system
• Liver
• Portal hypertension
• Portal vein thrombosis

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